Young waits for his shot with Cougars

Juco transfer wants to complete UH puzzle inside

Published 6:30 am, Saturday, January 21, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - If he kicked back and thought about it for a while, Richard Young would probably smile at the ironic turn his life has taken.

But these days Young has precious little time for reflection, what with him rehabilitating a surgically repaired knee, going to class and the fact that it's basketball season. And Young, 22, also is the father of a 6-year-old daughter named Jayla.

About the only spare time the 6-9 power forward has these days is the few hours when the Houston Cougars are playing their basketball games.

It's during those precious minutes that Young finds himself idle, with nothing but time on his hands and a good seat on the bench.

"It's been tough so far, but coach (Tom Penders) has a plan for me," said Young, who came to Houston this season from Hillsborough (Fla.) Community College. "Hurting my knee didn't help. But I'm getting closer to contributing."

Young is hoping tonight will be that night.

The Cougars (10-5, 1-2 in C-USA) are in town to play Alabama-Birmingham (13-3, 3-0), a rare Conference USA team with a national swagger.

"Richard has been looking very strong in practice," Penders said. "His knee has looked good and he's been really active in the paint."

Which is precisely how Young wants to be utilized.

Comfort zone

Young scans the floor and sees fluid whippets such as Lanny Smith, Oliver Lafayette and Brian Latham and sees a spot for a certain long-limbed, climb-the-sky athlete who can control the paint with his kinetic rebounding and shot-blocking.

"I really think I'm that missing piece to the puzzle," Young said. "We've got a good thing going, but I think we need someone to come in there and clean up on the rebounds. I think that two or three extra offensive rebounds will save some games for us. That will make a big difference.

"I want to do whatever it is they want me to do. I'm not the type who has to shoot the ball a lot and drop 30 a night. If I can come in and rebound and block some shots, then I'm pretty sure that everybody will be satisfied with me."

Satisfaction has been hard to come by, but Young, who has played only 17 minutes in four games, isn't pouting over the turn of events. That's what being a father and a college student will do to you.

"It's just like a job. That's the way I have to look at it," Young said. "When I wake up in the morning I have to go to class if I want to be on this team and earn my scholarship. But I make sure I spend time with my family, even if it's just eating dinner together. I make sure that any spare time I have is put toward my family."

"Oh, man, I watch all those (Disney) shows — Kim Possible, That's So Raven, Lilo and Stitch," said Young, laughing. "I'm like a big kid because I'm watching them all. And every time a new movie comes out on DVD I'm out renting it with everybody else."

Dedicated and loyal

Young might not be playing, but he's sticking it out with the team that continues to believe in him.

After two first-team All-Suncoast Conference seasons at Hillsborough, Young had to sit out last year to concentrate on his academics — no basketball. Other schools fled, but the Cougars assured Young he was still a part of their plans.

"That's all I needed to hear," Young said. "A lot of schools bagged out, but Houston stuck with me even when I sat out that year. I told (assistant) coach (Melvin) Haralson that I wouldn't even visit another school. Colorado came back when they found out that I was going to graduate, and so did Nebraska and Texas A&M. But I told them all that I was going to Houston.

"Just coming to play college basketball here is great. I want to play in the NBA one day, but I'm really loving the college life here with all the tradition here. This is still a dream come true."